First and foremost.

Resistance to change.

Let's face it, most of us are old and I'll willing to bet the vast majority who dislike the new site are old. As you know, learning a new skill at old age keeps to mind alert, so I embrace this change.

We come here for contents, less so user interface, and TER has plenty of that.

...as long as *I* don't have to do anything different!"

I think the changes sprung upon us without explanation or input (not many paid attention to the Beta version before the fecal matter impacted the rotating impeller) shook up a lot of people. When someone in a customer-service business (and this is the ultimate customer service business, as it revolves around the oldest customer service business in the world) does that,they run the risk of pissing off a good number of its customers.

As many folks have mentioned the "New Coke" analogy here, it would seem to be the "changes without input" aspect that has most people riled up. Almost to where you can imagine bales of tea being tossed into Boston Harbor --

If they are truly disgusted with the new format (and I don't see much change from the old version, except for the look), then they will vote with their dollars (not renew memberships) and take their eyeballs/dollars elsewhere. Of course, I don't see many alternatives that are as good as TER right now -- but that's the thing about opportunities like these. One company's screw-up ia another company's golden opportunity to snag some dissatisfied customers.

I say all of this with the caveat that the new system is working fine for me and I'm not using a mobile device to access TER. If I were having technological challenges accessing a site that I had paid good money to access, and couldn't -- damn right I'd be upset!

The 2 easiest means of measuring the success or failure of this programming change are:

1. Paid memberships
2. Post counts

Complaints are fine, but they simple add to the post counts which is measured as that people like the change.  The folks up in the invisible tower read the boards, but the quick metrics are going the wrong way if you're trying to impact change.  Food for thought.

I agree that the new format is cumbersome and not easy to negotiate.  Go back to the classic model.

I don't have much of a problem with the new look.  HOWEVER....for whatever reason, TER freezed up both Foxfire and IE on a regular basis.

I like the site. It does take a little to get used to but after a short learning curve (for me), I have found it very slick and stylish. Now I don't search reviews or providers so I have no idea how good or bad those functions are. For general use it is fine by me.

Re: Reasons why... are not so deep...

As someone who deals with user reactions to interface changes, I can tell you this:

It is the same no matter WHAT that software is for:

The bigger the change in the interface the stronger the reaction, which will usually be either positive or negative. It's rarely ambivalent.

The strong initial negative reaction here is because that change is major. That ONE reason is the current problem.

Other factors --like OPS theories-- will affect the reaction over time.

Right now, it's just that "someone moved my cheese!"

the classic site is one of the greatest sites on the web and i am willing to pay money to be a VIP member.

the new site unusable. if classic disappears i would only do VIP for free as a result of new reviews. given my preference for repeating with established friends that means i would rarely be VIP. the new site is not worth the thinnest dime i can find IMO.

my membership is now run out. i will not renew if "classic" goes away, period. i have developed other methods of screening and they work OK enough.

of course that may be cause for cheers and rejoicings in some quarters. i'm happy with that too BTW.